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Resumen

Engineering of devices and systems such as magnets, fault current limiters or cables, based
on High Temperature Superconducting wires requires a deep characterization of the possible
degradation of their properties by handling at room temperature as well as during the service
life thus establishing the limits for building up functional devices and systems.
In the present work we report our study regarding the mechanical behavior of spliced joints
between commercial HTS coated conductors based on YBCO at room temperature and service
temperature, 77 K.
Tensile tests under axial stress and the evolution of the critical current and the electric resistance
of the joints have been measured. The complete strain contour for the tape and the joints
has been obtained by using Digital Image Correlation. Also, tensile tests under external magnetic
field have been performed and the effect of the applied field on the critical current and
the electric resistance of the joints has been studied. Additionally, fatigue tests under constant
cyclic stress and loading-unloading ramps have been carried out in order to evaluate the electromechanical
behavior of the joints and the effect of maximum applied stress on the critical current.
Finally, a preliminary numerical study by means of the Finite Element Method (FEM) of the
electromechanical behavior of the joints between commercial HTS is presented.